Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 6: To ask the Taoiseach when the new task force on active citizenship last met; and when he expects the next meeting to take place. [1867/06]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 7: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the task force on active citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3194/06]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 8: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the task force on active citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3216/06]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 9: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the work to date in 2006 of the task force on active citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4186/06]

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 10: To ask the Taoiseach when the task force on active citizenship last met; if he will report on the progress of the task force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6398/06]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 10, inclusive, together.

I announced my intention last April to establish a task force on active citizenship. We have received hundreds of expressions of interest in the task force and its work, and a large number of requests to be appointed members. These came from a variety of people from different parts of society — the voluntary sector, business, academics, public servants and many others.

A secretariat was also established in my Department to review current trends in civic participation in Ireland and consider the latest national and international research in this policy area. The secretariat has met with a wide variety of groups including, for example, the TCD centre for non-profit management, the business in the community organisation, practitioners of the US Asset Based Community Development Institute, the community policing unit in the Garda and the National Economic and Social Forum.

It has also attended a large number of relevant seminars and events including the Dublin Docklands Authority conference on active citizenship in the docklands, a seminar on the role of social capital in integrating immigrant communities, a Royal Irish Academy conference on volunteering and philanthropy, the national adult literacy week active citizenship through literacy conference and the directors of services in local government annual conference.

This work carried out by the secretariat will greatly inform and assist the task force in its consideration of active citizenship across different areas of Irish life. It has also been of great assistance in deciding on the membership of the task force.

I am now pleased to announce that Mary Davis, chief executive officer, Special Olympics Ireland, has agreed to chair the task force on active citizenship. I am waiting until I have responses from all the other proposed members before I announce the full membership of the task force, but I hope to be in a position to do so later this week.

Mary Davis began her own association with Special Olympics Ireland as a volunteer and her success in capturing the enthusiasm of a nation will, I have no doubt, inspire critical debate on the importance of promoting a renewed sense of pride in community, in our sense of place and in working together to improve the lives of all our citizens. From her wealth of practical experience, her personal drive and commitment, Ms Davis is ideally placed to guide the task force as it examines the policies and measures that would help to inspire and foster the ethos of civic responsibility and engagement in modern Ireland.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Does the Taoiseach recall saying in a parliamentary reply last November in regard to active engagement in society by citizens there are pressures on this type of civic engagement in modern Ireland because of work, family responsibilities, changing settlement patterns and evolving societal values? Did he read this morning the report of a study by Professor O'Boyle, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, showing the quality of life for those at management level in many companies is less than for those suffering from serious physical illness in hospital because of the pressures? Will he acknowledge that one does not have to be a manager to have this kind of pressure? Does the Taoiseach acknowledge that the capacity of citizens to engage in active citizenship is subject to growing pressure particularly because of economic pressures on the younger element in society? As the Taoiseach carries this morning the sign of humility and penance on his forehead will he admit that nine years of his Government has contributed to a disastrous deterioration——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy should return to the question.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

——in the capacity of ordinary people to contribute to society outside of work as active citizens because of these pressures? Does he agree that hundreds of thousands of young working people, in particular, are forced to work inordinate hours to make up the cost of the inordinate mortgages foisted upon them by the limitless greed of land speculators and profiteering in the housing sector, which the Taoiseach has allowed?

Does the Taoiseach acknowledge that because of his failure over nine years to resolve the transport and traffic crisis, working people are spending the equivalent of one extra working day per week on the roads, which time could be used to contribute to society?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

These questions do not arise from the five questions before the House.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am surprised the Ceann Comhairle does not recognise their relevance. One should acknowledge the great contribution of ordinary people, who are under enormous pressure, to youth clubs, youth services etc. Rather than having a task force on active citizenship, a change in Government policy that would lessen the pressure on people's lives would create the space for an enormous increase in active citizenship.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy is well outside the five questions for the Taoiseach.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am glad the Deputy, in his second last sentence, acknowledged that people get involved in active citizenship. As usual, I disagree fundamentally with him but he is correct that there are now hundreds of thousands of people working in our society because of Government policies. These people are not in the Bronx, Australia or London but in their own country. They are working and commuting every day and they participate in society as much as they can. Tens of thousands of people are happy in their lives.

I did not have a chance to read the statement made today by the eminent professor of the Royal College of Surgeons, who was quoted by the Deputy — it is unusual he quoted him today — but I read the results of recent research which indicates that people's attitudes to active citizenship have not changed very much in 15 or 16 years, nor has the amount of time they have available to them.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The pressures have changed enormously.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

We will always have pressures. People had pressures 100 years ago and they will have them in 100 years time. I never worry too much about pressure because if you do, you will be pressurised.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is calculated that the price of a house has increased fourfold and that is pressurising.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Allow the Taoiseach to continue without interruption.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I would not want the Deputy to worry about pressure because you only get worse when you concern yourself with these things.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Taoiseach is bluffing as usual.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

One should try to find solutions, think positively, think of the glass as being half full, and move forward.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Form a coalition.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

If the Government put a stop to the speculators, the price of a house would not be four times what it was when it came to power.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

One gets irritable and cranky, cannot think of anything positive and dies prematurely when one gets oneself into that position, so the Deputy should not be agitating himself like that.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Taoiseach must have been eating the ashes as well as putting them on his forehead because he is delirious.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

He should think of all the positive things that happen in society and how he can make them better.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Throw off the old sackcloth.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

How does one deal with a cranky Taoiseach? When the task force was announced last year, the Taoiseach indicated it would report within six months. It is sometimes difficult to hear him very clearly over here and, even when we do, it is sometimes just as difficult to understand him. Will he tell us, if he has not done so already, whether the task force has reported? Will he indicate the full membership of the task force and let us know who we are talking about?

It was stated that the task force would report on how to encourage people to volunteer for various activities, from parish activities to the work of credit unions and sports and scouting organisations. Has the task force, over its period of deliberation, met representatives from each of these sectors and engaged with them in determining how the Government could encourage more participation in these areas? I ask this against the backdrop of the recent and very devastating news from Scouting Ireland that it has had to abandon its proposals to have a jamboree park at Castle Saunderson on the Cavan-Fermanagh border, which would have brought all the scouting associations throughout the island together regularly. How can the Government intervene to help in these areas? What encouragement is there for people to become active volunteers in their respective communities and areas of interest?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

We are trying to foster the spirit of activism such that people will volunteer some of their time, be it to the scouts, junior schoolboy football, the Irish Girl Guides or any other activity. The ESRI report issued before Christmas showed that 400,000 people in Ireland are actively engaged in this regard. It happens that as a country becomes more prosperous — this happens in every country — people tend not to give of their time. We must be honest about this. It is argued that individuals do not volunteer because they are busy, but we all know that those who are more likely to give of their time are those who are doing a bit for the GAA or soccer club, the scouts or credit unions. Other people are home at 5 o'clock in the evening and do not get involved — that is the truth.

The task force is asking what can be done to foster the spirit of activism. Its terms of reference are to review the evidence regarding trends and citizens' participation across the main areas of civic, community, cultural, occupational and recreational life — the ESRI report helps to feed into that; examine trends in the context of international experience and analysis — many good reports have been written on that subject in most countries; review the experience of organisations involved in political, caring, community, professional, occupational, cultural, sporting and religious dimensions of life regarding influences, positive and negative, on levels of citizen participation and engagement — that involves looking at the good and bad aspects, both of which we know exist; and recommend measures that could be taken as part of public policy to facilitate and encourage a greater degree of engagement by citizens in all aspects of life and the growth and development of voluntary organisations as part of a strong civic culture — I have no doubt that the Government, local authorities, the Health Service Executive and others will learn lessons from that. It is intended that the task force will complete its work within nine months.

The view was taken that we should do the preparatory work first rather than ask the task force to commence its work and spend ages waiting for people. We established the secretariat last autumn. It gathered the relevant information over the entire autumn and winter and determined how the process could work. It attended all the conferences I have mentioned.

We genuinely tried to accommodate everybody. Hundreds of people wanted to be involved although there was not a cent in it for any of them. One will appreciate the people involved, and they wanted to play their part. I had to choose representative areas and individuals because it could not be done otherwise. Luckily Mary Davis, who probably has the most credibility in this area because she has proved herself——

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

She is a Mayo person.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Yes, and she is highly successful. We tried to recruit from the big organisations people who have been involved in this area. We have spoken to all the chosen individuals and are awaiting their responses, which we should receive within a matter of days. I hope they will get on with the work over the period of their remit.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Have the individuals behind this initiative given any thought to the concept of citizenship in the education system? During the events of last Saturday, a great many young people spewed out sectarian hatred and bigotry on the streets of Dublin, who did not seem to have much of a concept of citizenship of this State or of somebody resident on this island. Perhaps we ought to include the concept of citizenship in the education system. It has often been remarked to me that the scouts, for example, in other countries get some credit in their equivalent of the leaving certificate examination for their performance in the scouts. We do not give any such recognition in our education system to young people who are involved in such positive activity. As the Taoiseach said, there is a hell of a chasm between the young fellows who gathered in Celtic and Hibernian jerseys etc., last Saturday and any notion of good citizenship.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I would not rule out any of the things suggested by Deputy Rabbitte. When I was in school in the 1960s, before they changed the curriculum, I attended civics lessons for 40 minutes each week. It was a good idea to teach young people about such matters.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Taoiseach learned his civics at an early age by going up poles and putting stuff in doors.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

That happened a little later.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Taoiseach was an exception.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In fairness, I should give credit to Home Farm football club for helping me to learn about these matters. I would be lifted out of it if I was two minutes late for voluntary training. It is important to encourage scouting, football and other sports.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I can see the Taoiseach is at home on this ground.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I think one learns lessons about citizenship by participating in such activities. If one is on the road firing rocks and causing trouble——

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

What about climbing trees?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is interesting that everyone is getting excited about the activities of one weekend, given that many hoodlums are involved in such activities every weekend. I do not intend to roll it out in the education sector. Many things are being done to encourage volunteerism. Students are participating in such activities as part of the second level transition year programme. Steps are also being taken at third level, for example at Dublin Institute of Technology. Grants are allocated to voluntary bureaux and funding is made available to various groups under the Cohesion Fund by the city and county development boards. Many good things are happening. I accept that Deputy Rabbitte has a particular interest in a children's programme in his constituency. We are trying to encourage some activity in that regard and I hope we will have some success. It is necessary to take action in heavily populated areas where people feel they are not involved and are not participating. I refer, for example, to the pilot projects in Deputy Rabbitte's constituency and in two or three other areas, including Darndale. Many people in such communities are badly alienated. They are not getting involved in the good sporting and scouting clubs which are available to them. Rather than standing back, we should try to get such people involved in activities of that nature, but it will not happen automatically. We have to work hard in the area of active citizenship. I am not sure whether we should take action in schools, but we should take action in communities where high levels of difficulties are found. If we try to embrace such communities, we will be able to change the way they are. Deputy Rabbitte and I are familiar with the communities to which I refer. It is not easy to bring about change in such areas. Steps have to be taken over the course of a year or two. Much of the good work that is being done involves giving grants to sporting and other organisations so they can employ full-time workers in communities to interact with local people.